Sixty-one area residents — including prominent attorneys, business owners and a senior editor for the Odessa American — slogged into rain-soaked Salinas Park throughout the morning Tuesday to surrender as suspects in a yearlong prostitution investigation.
Warrants remained outstanding Tuesday night for another 13 suspects who didn’t show up at the Odessa Police Department’s makeshift booking station in the park — including one for a former ECISD board member.
In all, the 74 people — seven women and 67 men — made arrangements to turn themselves in to face charges in the local and federal investigation.
The investigation focused on activities at The Healing Touch massage parlor, 3631 N. Dixie Blvd., and Middessa Therapy, 810 E. Eighth St.
Among those charged is attorney and community volunteer Scott Tidwell, who faces two Class A misdemeanor charges of promoting prostitution.
Former Deputy District Attorney Lee Hadden was charged with three counts of misdemeanor B prostitution. Hadden was asked to resign from the DA’s office shortly after the investigation came to public attention in late May.
The others on the list were charged with one count each of misdemeanor B prostitution. Full Story...